A disclaimer: Watching movies can often be a frivolous use of time, filled with content that is harmful to one’s soul (unless of course the production is halal in its execution). I was intrigued by the aforementioned film’s Islamic concept and felt compelled to share my insights in this review. That said, I found myself skipping several scenes due to their disturbing and graphic depictions of Hell.
Siksa Neraka, directed by M.B. Rahimsyah, is an Indonesian film that sets out to deliver a powerful Islamic message: we are accountable for our actions, and we must face the consequences of how we lived on Earth in the Afterlife (may Allah protect us all).
Four siblings—Tyas, Fajar, Saleh, and Azizah—are swept away by a torrential downpour as they attempt to cross a river en route to a neighbouring village, all unbeknownst to their parents, including their stern but highly respected father. They awaken in Hell, where they endure brutal punishment for their concealed transgressions, while desperately striving to reunite with one another.
At the outset, the film is quick to foreshadow the ensuing suffering, clearly preparing the audience for a sequence of agonising events. While the core focus of the film—bringing the tortures and the gruesome landscapes of Hell to life, the portrayal of Hell in a movie (using descriptions from the Qur’an). As the descriptions in the holy Qur’an depict a far more excruciating reality than anything we can imagine.
I understand the filmmakers’ intention in portraying young characters who disrespect their parents and face the consequences—highlighting sins that hold serious weight in Islam, and sins which are concealed, rather than focusing on themes such as bank robbery, as seen in many Hollywood films. However, the execution fell short, largely because we never developed a genuine understanding or empathy for the characters. The dialogue was simplistic, diminishing the narrative’s overall impact.
Siksa Neraka centres primarily on presenting grotesque imagery within a fiery, magma-laden realm, where the four young protagonists are subjected to constant torture for their wrongdoings. While Siksa Neraka explores themes of sin and retribution, its portrayal of these concepts remains shallow. The moral implications are presented in a simplistic manner. Moreover, the film diminishes the profound and essential message of Islam, reducing it to the mere spectacle of horror, thereby stripping it of its true significance. Despite using the genre of horror. Ultimately, the film’s most significant flaw lies in its plot.
The film also prompts scrutiny regarding its intended message. While it conveys a clear moral about leading a virtuous life and avoiding deceit, it overlooks a crucial aspect. The protagonists appear disconnected from Allah. The narrative would have been far more compelling had it included some characters with a profound connection to Allah, offering a depiction of their journey to Jannah.
I appreciate the efforts of our Indonesian brothers and sisters in attempting something innovative; storytelling is indeed a powerful means of dawah, especially for reaching audiences on popular streaming platforms such as Netflix. However, I wish this project had been more fully developed and that background music had not been used throughout.
It seems that this film was initially aimed at a Muslim, Indonesian audience and was later made available on Netflix. This presents potential issues, as it does not adequately convey the justice of Allah in His laws. A Western audience, unfamiliar with the context, may perceive some of the depicted sins as minor, and without proper explanation, their significance may remain unclear.